Does a bad ground wire to a battery keep the car from starting?

Answer 1

Yes, a bad ground wire can cause all kinds of electrical problems in a car's operating system. The worst of these problems is, of course, the car refusing to start. The starter motor requires a great deal of electricity to ignite and the "punch" isn't there with a poor ground. However, if the battery is fully charged, some of the electrical systems in the car will still work (overhead lamp, radio, etc.) even with a weak ground. But, continued jumps and attempts at starting with a bad ground will eventually deplete the battery and cause all systems to fully fail -- the car will be flat-line dead.

Many times, the ground cable does not need to be replaced. All contact points simply need to be thoroughly cleaned of corrosion, rust, and dirt to remedy the grounding problem. Follow these simple steps in your backyard and save a bunch of money at the shop:

1.) Make sure car is off and disconnect the battery cables and remove the battery. First, check the battery to assure it has a good charge. If it does, continue to step 2... If it does not, buy a new battery, and continue to step 3...

2.) With a baking soda and water mixture and a wire brush (or toothbrush), clean the battery posts until they shine.

3.) Dismantle the battery clamps at the end of the cables and clean all parts using a wire brush (or toothbrush) saturated in a baking soda and water mixture until all parts shine.

4.) Trace the ground cable to its grounding contact point(s) with the car's sheet metal. Clean the entire grounding contact area using the same method as above. In some instances, you will need to remove dead bugs and dirt that may be collected around the contact point(s).

5.) Pat dry all cleaned components with a shop rag.

6.) Reassemble battery clamps at the cable ends.

7.) Clean out the battery tray and replace the battery and reconnect cables to battery posts. Connect red positive (+) first then connect black ground (-). Tighten all parts.

8.) Dab a bit of petroleum jelly on the clamps and battery posts. This will slow the corrosive process that probably shorted the ground in the first place.

9.) Get in the car and crank it up and call your spouse outside to flaunt your skills.

10.) Drive to NAPA, Autozone, O'Reilly, or your local "Joe Mechanic" Shop and have a diagnostic completed on your starter, battery, and alternator to make sure nothing has been damaged and are all in good working order.